NOLAN COUNTY - Pecan Creek Energy Center, a $200 million natural gas-powered power plant, will be developed and operated by NTE Energy. Situated on 60 acres, it will be located about 18 miles south of Sweetwater on Hwy. 70.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2014 — the construction phase is projected to create 100 jobs. Ten to 15 full-time jobs will fill the roster when the plant begins operations in second quarter 2016.

The plant “will generate enough power to supply approximately 200,000 homes,” said Danielle Milman, NTE spokeswoman. One megawatt is enough electricity to power about 200 homes during periods of high electricity use, and about 500 homes during periods of typical consumption.

The plant will use Mitsubishi’s M501GAC-Fast combustion turbine in simple cycle configuration, providing up to 270 megawatts in ten minutes. It’s fueled by natural gas and will operate as a peaking generation facility, providing quick start-ups.

“I want to point out that (the plant) is absolutely using zero water,” said Ken Becker, executive director of the Sweetwater Enterprise for Economic Development. “The only water that’s going to be needed in the plant at this point is sanitary water for employees.”

“It doesn’t displace wind, in fact it enhances wind,” said Becker. “When the winds aren’t blowing and the demand is high, this is where they are going to get their power.”

Augustine, Fla.-based NTE Energy focuses on the development and acquisition of strategically located electric generation and transmission facilities within North America.